DEFENSE

OFFENSE

TACTICS

Dire porcupines are passive until threatened. When faced with possible combat, the dire porcupine raises the quills on its body and spins around, smashing an opponent with its quill-covered tail. If it bites an opponent, 1d4 quills break off from its body and lodge in the opponent.

STATISTICS

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Quills (Ex)

When the dire porcupine strikes with its tail, it dislodges 1d6 quills that automatically break
off and lodge in the opponent’s flesh. A lodged quill imposes a –1
circumstance penalty to attacks, saves, and checks. Each 1 minute
thereafter, the quill moves deeper into the opponent’s flesh, dealing
1d2 additional points of damage. Removing the quill takes 1 full round
and deals 1d4 additional points of damage. If the quill has been
embedded for more than 10 rounds, a Strength
check at DC 10 is needed to remove the quill. For every minute after
that, the DC to remove a lodged quill increases by +1. An unarmed or
melee touch attack against a dire porcupine causes 1d4 quills to break off and lodge in the attacker.

ECOLOGY

The dire porcupine ranges in size from 3 to 4 feet in height and can weigh up to 80 pounds. When the porcupine is relaxed, the hair and quills lie flat and point toward the rear of its body. When threatened, it draws up the skin of the back to expose quills facing all directions.